Best Pollsters Biden Approval Rating: Biden Improving a little but Risks remain

Since the fall of the government in Afghanistan to the Taliban in 2021, the public has generally had an unfavorable view of the President and his foreign policy actions. Even at the beginning of this month, Biden carried a negative approval by nearly ten points. However, since the start of the invasion, voters have started to support the actions of the President. Nearly half (48%) of registered voters support Biden’s actions regarding the Ukraine conflict, with 40% of voters in disapproval.

This appears to be an opportunity Biden needs, as his party is looking to face a seven point deficit in the midterms. For one, it is an opportunity to show the American public the value in electing him. After an embarrassing exit from Afghanistan, Biden now has an opportunity to inspire the American public by reminding them of the importance of America in global affairs – especially European ones. By successfully navigating the NATO & EU countries into a relatively unified response on the Ukraine issue, it is an important reminder both to European leaders and to American voters of the value in a proper negotiator.

Secondly, this conflict is a highly publicized event that will likely force more attention onto the President. Under Trump, there was no shortage of media posted and consumed about the President near daily. However, the media demand for Biden is not the same and may have contributed to the development of the ‘Sleepy Joe’ persona that the public has stuck to him.

However, plenty of electoral danger exists for the President as well.
The inflation problem has plagued Democrats and Biden since the completion of his early legislative achievements, and thus has become his biggest problem. Without any positive achievements to point to since Spring of 2021, prices continuing their surge could easily sing the death throes of the party come November. Biden has already begun releasing strategic reserves to relieve supply pressures caused by sanctions on Russian oil. Additionally, with an increasing retail market for stocks and cryptocurrency a looming bear market could begin causing greater panic for the general public – not just the upper investing class.
Perhaps the worst outcome would be a failure to defend Ukraine’s government, for if the government falls to an autocratic Russia then Americans would likely view that as another failure of foreign policy. There are not many achievements for Americans to celebrate their hegemony, and thus there is a domestic rejection of it in electoral politics in favor of deeper cultural issues stoked at home. For Biden to fail here, he will be painted as weak and the country as a failure under his leadership. If he treads carefully, he may keep two more years to work on his agenda but a failure here could signal the end to his relevancy.

Author: Connor Johnson